Bloomsbury Summer School (text)

Bloomsbury Summer School

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Fascinated by ancient civilisations?

We offer anyone with any level of knowledge, inspiring short courses on ancient Egypt and other areas of the ancient world.

2025 Course timetable

Monday 28 July to Friday 1 August

HIEROGLYPHS FOR BEGINNERS (in person)

Course Director: Mr Kit Devine (Independent)

 

Monday 28 July

10:30* – 11:00
Students gather in the BSS Common Room

11:00 – 11:30
BSS Director’s Welcome Address

11:30 – 13:00
1. Explanation: Our first signs and first words

Welcome Lunch in BSS Common Room (14:00 Short optional tour of UCL with the Director)

14:30 – 15:45
2. Explanation: What are the ‘other’ signs?

16:15 – 17:30
3. Guided Reading and Wrap Up

17:45
Non-BSS event: Get together with fellow students for a drink in the Woolf and Whistle Bar on the ground floor of the Tavistock Hotel

 

Tuesday 29 July

10:00 – 11:15
4. Explanation: How to read some basic phrases

11:45 – 13:00
5. Guided Reading

14:15 – 15:30
6. Explanation: What the offering cult says about you

16:00 – 17:15
7. Guided Reading and Wrap Up

17:15 – 18:30
BSS Social on Common Room balcony

 

Wednesday 30 July

10:00 – 11:15
8. Explanation: What is the offering formula?

11:45 – 13:00
9. Guided Reading

14:15 – 15:30
10. Explanation: Offering ‘everything perfect and pure’

16:00 – 17:15
11. Guided Reading and Wrap Up

17:30
Non-BSS event: Get together with fellow students for dinner at Poppadom Indian Kitchen in the Tavistock Hotel

 

Thursday 21 July

10:00 – 11:15
12. Explanation: Kings’ names and what they tell us

11:45 – 13:00
13. Guided Reading

14:15 – 15:30
14. Explanation: Putting a date on a monument

16:00 – 17:15
15. Guided Reading and Wrap Up

 

Friday 1 August

10:00 – 11:15
16. Explanation: Scenes and how to describe them

11:45 – 13:00
17. Guided Reading

14:15 – 15:30
18. Explanation: Looking at Abydos

16:00 – 17:15
19. End-of-course Wrap Up

17:15 – 19:00
End-of-Course drinks party (you are welcome to invite guests)

 

* All times are London UK time.

NB: Timetables, once published, are unlikely to change, but remain provisional until the first day of the course.